Taji Mag | Black Culture

Radiant Child by Lola Valentine

Radiant Child

Radiant Child

They take your innards and make you into a tragedy
Hang you on the wall, stuffed, for all to see.
Just so they can reminisce
Speak of how much you touched them
And how there hasn’t been anyone since.
A public condition — they like their heroes dead.

To Jean-Michel Basquiat and every other who delivered their gift and left

You genius child, you born martyr
If the world had known would they have loved you any harder.
You lost soul.
Lost your soul. Still
You gave your whole
Knew you had something inside to give the whole
World.
Must’ve got your beat from the street
And bought your spirit antique.
Cuz we
Hadn’t seen anything like you
You collaboration of culture and breath
Beauty and death
Silence and depth
Rebel against uprights
You hung left
Not worried about going hungry
When you’re so full
Soulful.
So they starved you.
Til you were nothing but brushes and jars
And your smock hung loose
You still refused.
Cope is a 4 letter word
often used
to describe
Whatever is used
Normally depends on what part of you is bruised.
I pray that in your second coming you die a death you choose.

About Lauren "Lola Valentine" Jones

Lauren 'Lola' Jones is a Creative and Connector from Brooklyn, NY. As a Writer, she uses her curious nature and myriad of interests to explore the world and share her findings with others. Currently traveling, curiosity and exploration are major components of her creative process. With a focus on Culture and Beauty throughout the Diaspora, she aims to help illuminate the many modes of Blackness, especially those of Femininity.
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